U.S. patent application number 10/606849 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-30 for integrated self-cooling plant support module for a fuel cell system.
Invention is credited to Grover, Trevor T., Kelly, Sean M..
Application Number | 20040265661 10/606849 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33540147 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040265661 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kelly, Sean M. ; et
al. |
December 30, 2004 |
Integrated self-cooling plant support module for a fuel cell
system
Abstract
An integrated system for air-cooling a main air blower drive
motor and electronic control module in a fuel cell plant support
module (PSM) disposed in an enclosure. Process air is drawn by a
main blower fan into the enclosure through a filter and then is
drawn from the enclosure into the blower via a first shroud
surrounding the electronics process control module (ECM) and a
second shroud surrounding the blower motor. The air cools these
components and is thereby desirably warmed before being directed to
the fuel cell assembly via an air distribution system. Thus, the
PSM is constantly cooled and purged through the downstream
processes, and the incoming air is constantly warmed by recovered
heat from the PSM.
Inventors: |
Kelly, Sean M.; (Brighton,
NY) ; Grover, Trevor T.; (Rushville, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
M/C 480-410-202
PO BOX 5052
TROY
MI
48007
US
|
Family ID: |
33540147 |
Appl. No.: |
10/606849 |
Filed: |
June 26, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
429/495 ;
62/259.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01M 2008/1293 20130101;
H01M 8/2475 20130101; Y02E 60/50 20130101; H01M 8/04014
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
429/026 ;
062/259.2 |
International
Class: |
H01M 008/04; H01M
008/12; F25D 023/12 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An integrated self-cooling plant support module for
incorporation into a fuel cell system including a fuel cell
assembly, said module being disposed in an enclosure having an air
distribution system and being adapted to draw exterior air into the
interior of said enclosure and to discharge air to the fuel cell
assembly, said integrated module comprising: a) an inlet port in a
wall of said enclosure; b) a motor mounted in said enclosure
adjacent said inlet port; c) a blower mechanically connected to and
driven by said motor and being in communication with said air
distribution system; d) an electronic control module mounted
adjacent said motor; e) a first shroud surrounding said electronic
control module and being open at one end to said interior of said
enclosure; and f) a second shroud surrounding said motor and being
connected at one end to said first shroud and being open at the
other end to said blower.
2. An integrated module in accordance with claim 1 further
comprising an air filter disposed in communication with said wall
inlet port.
3. An integrated module in accordance with claim 1 wherein said
electronic control module is provided with a heat sink.
4. An integrated module in accordance with claim 1 wherein said
exterior air is at ambient temperature and said air discharged to
said fuel cell assembly is at a higher temperature.
5. A method for cooling elements in a fuel cell plant support
module and for heating fuel cell process air for discharge to a
fuel cell assembly, comprising the steps of: a) providing an inlet
port in a wall of said enclosure; b) providing a motor mounted in
said enclosure adjacent said inlet port; c) providing a blower
mechanically connected to and driven by said motor and being in
communication with an air distribution system of said module; d)
providing an electronic control module mounted adjacent said motor;
e) providing a first shroud surrounding said electronic control
module and being open at one end to said interior of said
enclosure; f) providing a second shroud surrounding said motor and
being connected at one end to said first shroud and being open at
the other end to said blower; and g) operating said motor and said
blower to draw exterior air into the interior of said enclosure,
through said first shroud, through said second shroud, and through
said blower into said fuel cell assembly.
6. A solid-oxide fuel cell system comprising an integrated
self-cooling plant support module, said module being disposed in an
enclosure having an air distribution system, said module being
adapted to draw exterior air into the interior of said enclosure
and to discharge air to said fuel cell assembly, said integrated
module including an inlet port in a wall of said enclosure, a motor
mounted in said enclosure adjacent said inlet port, a blower
mechanically connected to and driven by said motor and being in
communication with said air distribution system, an electronic
control module mounted adjacent said motor, a first shroud
surrounding said electronic control module and being open at one
end to said interior of said enclosure, and a second shroud
surrounding said motor and being connected at one end to said first
shroud and being open at the other end to said blower.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to means for air cooling of
apparatus; more particularly, to such means for cooling components
within enclosures for fuel cells; and most particularly, to an
integrated self-cooling plant support module for a solid-oxide fuel
cell system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Fuel cells which generate electric current by controllably
combining elemental hydrogen and oxygen are well known. In one form
of such a fuel cell, an anodic layer and a cathodic layer are
separated by a permeable electrolyte formed of a ceramic solid
oxide. Such a fuel cell is known in the art as a "solid-oxide fuel
cell" (SOFC). Hydrogen, either pure or reformed from hydrocarbons,
is flowed along the outer surface of the anode and diffuses into
the anode.
[0003] Oxygen, typically from air, is flowed along the outer
surface of the cathode and diffuses into the cathode. Each O.sub.2
molecule is split and reduced to two O.sup.-2 ions catalytically by
the cathode. The oxygen ions diffuse through the electrolyte and
combine at the anode/electrolyte interface with four hydrogen ions
to form two molecules of water. The anode and the cathode are
connected externally through the load to complete the circuit
whereby four electrons are transferred from the anode to the
cathode. When hydrogen is derived by "reforming" hydrocarbons such
as gasoline in the presence of limited oxygen, the "reformate" gas
includes CO which is converted to CO.sub.2 at the anode. Reformed
gasoline is a commonly used fuel in automotive fuel cell
applications.
[0004] A complete SOFC system typically includes auxiliary
subsystems for, among other requirements, generating fuel by
reforming hydrocarbons; tempering the reformate fuel and air
entering the stack; providing air to the hydrocarbon reformer;
providing air to the cathodes for reaction with hydrogen in the
fuel cell stack; providing air for cooling the fuel cell stack;
providing combustion air to an afterburner for unspent fuel exiting
the stack; and providing cooling air to the afterburner and the
stack.
[0005] An enclosure for an SOFC system has two basic functions. The
first function is to provide thermal insulation for some of the
components which must function at an elevated temperature
(700.degree. C.-900.degree. C.) to maintain them at that
temperature for efficient operation, to protect lower temperature
components outside the thermal enclosure, and to reduce the
exterior temperature over the overall unit to a human-safe level.
The second function is to provide structural support for mounting
of individual components, mounting the system to another structure
such as a vehicle, protection of the internal components from the
exterior environment, and protection of the surrounding environment
from the high temperatures of the fuel cell assembly.
[0006] In a solid-oxide fuel cell system, the "hot" components,
e.g., the fuel cell stacks, the fuel reformer, tail gas combuster,
heat exchangers, and fuel/air manifold, are contained in a "hot
zone" within the thermal enclosure. The thermal enclosure is
intended specifically for minimizing heat transfer to its exterior
and has no significant structural or protective function for its
contents. A separate and larger structural enclosure surrounds the
thermal enclosure, defining a "cool zone" outside the thermal
enclosure for incorporation of "cool" components, e.g., the air
supply system and the electronic control system. The structural
enclosure components are known in the art as a "plant support
module" (PSM).
[0007] It is important that elements of the PSM be actively cooled
during operation of the SOFC system. In the prior art, the elements
are discrete, and such cooling is accomplished typically by
employing various independent auxiliary fans or blowers, which are
inefficient and which require additional power, package space, and
independent ducting. Further, the heat removed from the PSM
components is wasted by being discharged to the atmosphere via
exhaust ports in the structural enclosure.
[0008] What is needed is a compact, integrated self-cooling PSM
system for an SOFC, the system to include, at least, filtering
incoming air, cooling an electronic control module and a main
blower motor, and providing the resulting heated air forward as
process air to the fuel cell assembly.
[0009] It is a principal object of the present invention to reduce
the size and complexity of a fuel cell PSM cooling system.
[0010] It is a further object of the invention to pre-heat fuel
cell process air by passing it over PSM components in need of
active cooling.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Briefly described, an integrated system for air-cooling a
main blower, drive motor, filter housing, and electronics housing
is disposed at an entrance port in a wall of a PSM enclosure.
Process air enters the PSM enclosure through a filter and then is
drawn into the blower via a first jacket surrounding the
electronics process control module (ECM) and a second jacket
surrounding the blower motor. The air cools these components and is
thereby desirably warmed before entering the blower fan and being
directed to the fuel cell reformer and/or fuel cell stacks via a
manifold or plenum having a plurality of independently-controllable
air valves for metering air as needed to a plurality of process
locations and functions. Thus, the PSM is constantly self-cooled
and the enclosure purged through the downstream processes, and the
incoming air is constantly warmed by recovered heat from the
PSM.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The present invention will now be described, by way of
example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is an isometric view, partially exploded, of a fuel
cell system in accordance with the invention, showing a hot-zone
fuel cell assembly in a thermal enclosure and a cool-zone PSM
within a system structural enclosure;
[0014] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the cool-zone PSM shown in
FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a first isometric detailed view of the
self-cooling PSM shown in FIG. 1 from outside the enclosure;
and
[0016] FIG. 4 is a second isometric detailed view of the
self-cooling PSM shown in FIG. 1 from inside the enclosure.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] Referring to FIG. 1, a solid-oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system
10 comprises two nested enclosures: a thermal enclosure 12 and a
structural enclosure 14. Fuel cell assembly 16 is disposed in
thermal enclosure 12 which in turn is disposed in structural
enclosure 14. Thermal enclosure 12 defines a "hot zone"
therewithin. Outside of thermal enclosure 12 is a "cool zone"
within structural enclosure 14. Structural enclosure 14 preferably
is fabricated from relatively thick metal to provide structural
strength and a simple shape, such as a box with a removable lid,
for ease of fabrication. A self-cooling plant support module 20 in
accordance with the invention is connected via air distribution
subassembly 22 to elements of fuel cell assembly 16 projecting from
enclosure 14.
[0018] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, in an integrated system 24
for self-cooling of plant support module elements, a conventional
high speed air blower 26 draws inlet air 28 at external ambient
temperature through an air filter 30 in a filter housing 32 mounted
at a port 34 in a wall 36 of enclosure 14. Air 28 is drawn into the
interior 38 of enclosure 14 and mixes with air already therein.
Inlet air 28 is then drawn from interior 38 past electronic control
module 40 (preferably fitted with finned heat sink 42) disposed in
a first cooling shroud 44, thence through a second cooling shroud
46 surrounding blower motor 48, and thence through blower 26.
Warmed output air 52 from blower 26 is fed into a plenum 54 for
supplying a plurality of known independent fuel cell functions via
metered runners 56. The air control valves 58 of runners 56 are
controllably operated by electronic control module 40.
[0019] While the invention has been described by reference to
various specific embodiments, it should be understood that numerous
changes may be made within the spirit and scope of the inventive
concepts described. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention
not be limited to the described embodiments, but will have full
scope defined by the language of the following claims.
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